Well, once more, Sora here! I'm here with chapter six of Returning. Same day too, I'm pretty pleased. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, you have really kept me writing.
There's really not much to say. I don't own Teen Titans, but fan fiction will do until I can plan and execute my hostile take over. On with the story!
All too soon, at least in Raven's mind, they were standing before Starfire's door. The two women could hear someone on the other side humming in a happy, off-key tune. "Well," Terra prompted, "I don't think she'll hear us knock. Let's just go in." She pushed on the heavy door and slid in, pulling a somewhat nervous Raven behind her.
Inside, Starfire had just finished putting on her wedding dress. She was twirling around the room and singing joyfully to herself. The thought of a lifetime joined with her beloved thrilled her greatly. A soft voice interrupted her. "Err, Starfire, is that you?"
Starfire spun around, completely startled. Because her fiancé was of Earth, it was not uncommon to hear English spoken in the palace anymore. However, it had been years since anyone had called her Starfire. She regarded the intruder with suspicion. "You called me Starfire…" she said uncertainly.
"Um, sorry, but I can't remember your other name," Terra answered.
"Do not be sorry, but, please, I am curious. I know you, yes?"
"Yeah, kinda. It's me, Terra."
"Our bending of Earth Terra?" Starfire asked slowly, disbelievingly. Terra nodded.
"In the flesh," she answered with a crooked smile.
"You are alive!" Starfire cried. "You are redeemed, yes? Oh! Hello long sleeping friend!" She captured Terra in a joyful, bone crushing hug.
"Thank…you…Star…can't…breathe!"
"My apologies!"
Once Starfire released her, Terra stood back and looked at her friend. Star had not grown much taller. Her hair was still a rich red but now flowed down past her hips. As pretty as Starfire was at that moment, something was missing.
Some of Starfire's glow was missing. She no longer exuded the same carefree happiness. So lost in her studying of Starfire was Terra that she did not hear Starfire's next question.
"I'm sorry," Terra said apologetically, "can you repeat that please?"
"I asked how you came back."
"Oh, I'm not really sure. It has something to do with her though." Terra gestured behind herself. Starfire looked puzzled.
"Who?" she asked. Terra glanced around and frowned.
"Oh, come on! After all you've been through, this is what scares you? Get out here!" Starfire looked concerned. For all appearances, it looked like Terra was talking to no one.
"Terra, dear friend, to who are you speaking in such a heated voice. Who is it that has brought you back?"
"That would be me," a young woman said as she materialized between the other two. Starfire regarded her with curiosity.
"Please, you are Terra's friend, yes?"
"I was your friend too, once." Raven looked up into Starfire's face. "Do you recognize me at all?"
"Raven," Starfire nearly whispered. Raven nodded and looked down again. Starfire frowned thoughtfully. "No. You were not my friend once." Raven looked up in horrified shock. Star continued. "You are my friend eternal. I had said that once long ago, and I still mean that now." With that, she swept the dark woman into a one of her infamous embraces. Raven didn't fight it but, in fact, briefly returned it.
"Thanks, Star."
The embrace did not last long as Starfire quickly remembered Raven's preference for space. Raven did not seem quite ready to talk much yet, and Star's attention soon returned to the long dormant blonde. She and Terra proceeded to hash out the events concerning her betrayal and what happened after. Raven looked on at the chatting pair with a conflicting look of cheer and sorrow.
Without a doubt, Raven was overjoyed to see her old friend again. Old friends, she amended mentally. She was perhaps elated to find that Starfire had been honest in her forgiveness for the long ago fight and abandonment.
However, there was a darkness that refused to leave her mind. It nagged in the corners of her thoughts at all times. She never did tell Terra why she had returned. Raven knew eventually the awful truth would come out. If nothing else succeeded, they would be all she had. But as she watched them, she knew it was not yet the time. One woman was so newly alive and the other was to experience one of the most joyful days of her life.
Now was not the time to tell them of the atrocities slowly building up back on Earth. It was neither the time nor the place to express her worries over the evils and dangers steadily collecting. Raven sighed and tried to set her worries aside. She tried to content her self with the cheer of her companions. Inwardly she prayed they would forgive her for the danger she was ultimately leading them in to.
A knock on the door put a pause to all of the activity in the room and Galfor stuck his head in the door. "My princess, the ceremonies are due to begin in a half hour. Is everything you require prepared?"
"Not quite, dear Galfor. Perhaps you could find dresses for my long missing friends. They must be in my ceremony. Such a joyous occasion would be incomplete without them!" Galfor smiled, nodded and withdrew his head. Raven looked stunned and Terra looked on uncomprehendingly.
"Starfire, as kind as your gesture is, we'd be just as happy in the audience."
"You shall do no such thing! You must be a part of this. I am most happy to have you here. I only regret the others are not," Starfire trailed off then, sadly. Raven patted her arm in an attempt at comfort.
"I'm sure they'd love to be here."
"What's going on?" Terra asked.
"We just got drafted as bridesmaids," Raven replied. Unlike Raven, Terra reacted with no recalcitrance.
"Really?" she cried happily. "Oh Starfire, thank you!"
"Of course, Friend Terra."
"Star, is there anything you could do with my hair before the ceremony?"
"Of course, Terra! Come sit!"
Raven sighed in resignation. She was honored by the invitation, but she really hated dresses.
A half hour later, Raven, Terra and eight other Tamaranian women lead the way into the ceremonial hall. Raven was chosen as Starfire's honored maid and, as Tamaranian tradition dictated, she was in the front of the procession.
Raven took in the sights with her usual stoic look. However, her face cracked into a small, surprised grin when she recognized who Starfire's husband was to be. She smiled almost cheerfully as she walked steadily toward the tall, long black haired man standing at the end of the aisle.
Well, that is chapter six completed. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with me. I promise, eventually this story will get somewhere. I am already working on the seventh chapter for this story as well as the ninth chapter for Love and Family. You may check my profile page to see where the stories are and what is in the future. Until next time! Sora out.
